Two Sister's Farm

Having been recently diagnosed as having Polymyalgia, this I think explains why my hands are not as dexterous as they once were.
While I am still able I thought I would catch up on a few jobs I have been meaning to do but haven't got round to. It is a couple of months before my next exhibition which is at Milton Keynes on Saturday 16th February so there was no rush.

The first of these jobs being to make some slight additions to the very first rail truck I made, the Opel Blitz.
The original false chassis I have strengthened as I always felt this to be a weak spot.
The fuel tank on the actual vehicle was mounted sideways across the chassis just behind the cab. Due to the Athearn chassis arrangement I had to relocate it and mounted it to the nearside chassis rail. I then hid it behind a coil of rope as I never felt it looked right due to its shape as much as anything. I have now made two new fuel tanks one either side and I think these look much better. I've also made a small shelf at the rear on the near side to store odds and ends.
I have fitted a KD coupler to the rear to make the vehicle a bit more versatile and also two sand boxes at the front.
A white meaning less number has been applied to the drop side body at the rear, it serves to add a bit of colour.
I cleaned the motor commutator with a cotton wool bud and gave all the bearings a touch of La belle oil. Although well over twenty years old the motor seems to run better than ever.





Peter M

The gas producer has also been through the shops for a little work to the front end in the form of a fender. Due to the distance from the front bogie fitting a KD coupler was not a practical idea. It had one originally and it did not work very well. However I fitted one to the rear along with its attendant mounting. I also added a petrol tank as far from the gas generator as was practicable, which is under the front nearside wing. The vehicles is dual fuelled, the engine producing less power when running on gas.
This too has had a number applied to the rear bodywork to add a bit of colour.
This model has a sealed can motor so in this case it was just a lube job on the motor and moving parts of the chassis.






Peter M

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that pair

Thanks for showing them

David

I have done a bit more work on a couple more members of my locomotive fleet.
Firstly I added a KD coupler to the front of the quad gun tractor, making it a bit more useful around the farm.
The model is powered by an early 3 pole Ringfield pancake type motor, which runs every bit as well as the later enclosed can and fly wheel motor now fitted. A bit of added weight in the body helps I think.
The model is seen posing in the fiddle yard of my HO switching layout.



The other little modification was a sort of "shall I, shan't I " decision I couldn't make up my mind.
In the end decided to remove the rather large headlight mounted on the front of the smoke box. Having done it I'm glad did, not only does it make the little locomotive look more British but I think it improves the general look of it as well.
It now reminds me of the 0-4-ST locomotive built by Steven Lewin, Dorset Foundry, Poole, Dorset in 1863 to work at Seaham Harbour Durham.




Peter M

The old red bodied Simplex with the man riding on the bonnet never looked quite right to me. So I have made a new body out of plasticard which is supposed to represent wooden panelling. It is very loosely based on a device which is pictured in Stewart Squires excellent Lincolnshire Potato Railways book. The body on mine is lower to clear the bridge into the fiddle yard. The one in the book looks as if you could stand up on the footplate, mine caters for a seated driver only. I have also fitted KD's to make operating it a little easier.

The load on the home made pallet is made of odds and ends from my scrap box and makes a change from sacks of potatoes or wheat.

I have also re-made a new cover for the layout when in storage or transit.

The layouts next outing is at Milton Keynes on Saturday February 16th.






Peter M

I am going to MK show tomorrow so will make sure I come and find you...will be really keen to see this in the flesh

Cheers
Ian

I couldn't find you anywhere?

The next exhibition that Two Sisters is appearing at is

South West Herts MRS
at
Queens School
Aldenham Road
Bushey, Watford
Hertfordshire
WD23 2TY

On Saturday May 11th

Peter M

Sadly my old PC died a couple of weeks ago so I have had to get a replacement. Among the features I didn't have before was the option to change colour photos to black and white or sepia. The new PC has this option so I thought I would give it a try.
I thought it would give a few of my pictures a sort of period look. With such a small layout there is not a lot more you can do. Overall I think I prefer the sepia look.






Peter M

QUOTE I thought it would give a few of my pictures a sort of period look.

Excellent idea,no one can tell you,you've use the wrong colour paints.................

Thanks for sharing..............

Lost that very near perfect Fordson blue-yup everything is Fergusson grey Kelvin

QUOTE (Broadoak @ 17 Jun 2013, 12:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I hate to mention it LF&T but the Nuffield is actually a Fordson Major E1A.
Peter M
Ah, for those of us viewing in B&W, it looked orange

LF&T

2013 has not been a good year for electronic devices for me. Firstly my old computer died after some eight years use and now my wife's compact camera has cried enough also. Although it has taken many images over the last thirteen years so I shouldn't complain really.

I have never owned a digital camera, I always borrowed the one belonging to my wife in the past. With that no longer working I have had to lash out on a device of my own.
These are a few images I have taken with the new camera while testing the layout and stock in readiness for Swanley and Braunstone the week after





Peter M